Drake and I went back to the millpond where I used to fish as a kid to see if we could catch a few using circle hooks and nightcrawlers.  More data, continuing to prove the circle hook and bait boasts a 96% lip hook rate, rivaling any and all other forms of fishing.

 We caught several fish, and a variety of species.  It was a nice day, sunny, warm, and breezy, but we were in a protected area so it was very pleasant.

About an hour into it, a group of teenage boys came toward us with their fishing rods.  I thought the worst, as my experience has been that teens nowdays don’t have too much respect for others, and I was sure they were going to crowd in, get loud and vulgar, and cause us to leave.

 I was wrong.  They took a turn on the path, went upstream to fish, and left us alone.  Sure, I could hear them crackin’ up a bit, but so what.  That’s kids, and all I wanted was a little consideration which they gave me.  Kuddos to you guys, and your parents.  We certainly and absolutely appreciate your consideration of us.

We fished for a while longer, of course Drake was in the water most of the time along the waters edge.  We got tired and decided to leave.  The boys had moved to a spot directly across the river from us, were fishing quietly, so I decided to try something I usually don’t get the chance to do.  “We’re leaving soon, and this is a good place”, I said to the boys. “You might want to come over here”. 

“Okay”, one of them said with a respectful tone.  They packed up and headed over.

 We had done very well, and they had been struggling.  I risked it.  You never know how this will go, but I said it anyway.  “If you guys want, I’ll give you the crawlers I have and show you how to rig and use them”.

“You’re kidding”, one of them said. 

“Nope, here they are, and here’s how I’m rigged up”, I said.  First, you start with a circle hook when you use live bait.  It almost always hooks in the corner of the mouth….

 I spent the next 10 minutes explaining rigging, where the fish were, why, and where to cast.  They listened with genuine interest.  It was fun talking to nice kids.  I felt better knowing when I left they were going to do well, and felt better knowing there were still kids like that left in this world.

My eyes welled up as I stood there looking at him.  I never want to think of this, and I try to stuff it down whenever it comes up, but I wondered how I was ever going to go on the day he goes and jumps back into the lap of God where he came from.   He’s such a magnificent beast, runs so fast and powerfully.  Sits so majestic, and those dark brown eyes just bore right into your soul when he wants your attention.

Here I thought it was going to be just another grand time out fishing with Drake.  I invited a couple of friends along to go after some canal bluegills after getting zilch our last outing, and we went for them after work.  Of course he romped around and loved every minute of it.  I casted, fished, watched Drake, casted, fished, watched him, etc…the usual.

I don’t know what it was.  Maybe a combination of life things all coming together at once.  I looked at him.  His face is a little whiter than I remember.  My dad is in his 80’s.  I just turned 50.  My kids either got their master’s degrees, or are just finishing up.  Things are not going to remain the way you want them for ever.  Drake will not be with me forever, and I need a ten foot brick wall between me and the realization that this fantastic animal will be gone one day and the sorrow I will feel will be undefinable, unspeakable.

“Just look at him”, I muttered.  I called him to me for no reason, and spent the next few minutes simply petting and talking to him.   “Stop it”, I said silently to myself, trying to push down irrational the feeling of loss.  “He’s right here”.

I went back to fishing, trying not to let my friends see what I was going through.  I hadn’t planned it, would have chosen any other time for this to happen, but it came upon me like a thunderstorm on a sunny day.  It passed like a storm does…and it will be back again someday like storms do.

Tomorrow, and for as many days as I possibly can, with all my might - I’ll throw Drake his stick, play catch the ball, and take him fishing.  I’m going to enjoy the sun on my face every second I can, for as long as I can.